Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus No. 9-Seed Cincinnati (1st Round) on March 10, 2026 , Loss , 66, to, 73
Final Score
Men's Basketball
66
vs No. 9-Seed Cincinnati (1st Round)
73
The University of Utah Athletics
No. 8 Utah vs. No. 1 Michigan State
3/17/2000 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 17, 2000
Associated Press
GAME: No. 8 Utah (23-8) vs. No. 1 Michigan State (27-7), NCAA Midwest Regional, Second Round.
TIME: Saturday, 3:40 p.m. EST.
SITE: The Convocation Center, Cleveland.
Michigan State's defense was smothering in its NCAA tournament opening-round game, and Utah will be in plenty of trouble if the top-seeded Spartans get their offense up to a similar level.
Having recorded the best defensive performance on the first day of the NCAA tournament, Michigan State looks for an improved offensive effort as it battles eighth-seeded Utah in the second round of the Midwest Region.
The Spartans used their pressure defense to hold Valparaiso to 25 percent shooting in an easy 65-38 victory Thursday. Michigan State jumped out to a 20-3 lead by limiting the Crusaders to one field goal in the opening 13:17.
"Wow, their on-the-ball pressure," Valparaiso coach Homer Drew said. "They're so good at attacking the ball."
That tenacious defense often led to easy baskets for the Spartans, who are seeking their second straight trip to the Final Four.
"We started off timid on the offensive end but we picked up the defense and that sparked our offense," said point guard Mateen Cleaves, who had 15 points and eight assists. "We ended up getting fast breaks and a lot more open looks when the defense got more intense."
Michigan State rolled to victory despite going just 6-of-17 from 3-point range and getting held under 75 points for just the second time in its last eight games.
"The defense keyed our offense," A.J. Granger said. "Our offense wasn't really clicking tonight, so we relied on our defense."
Utah will have trouble solving Michigan State's defense if it fails to play better offensively than it did in the first round.
The Utes struggled against Saint Louis' man-to-man defense Thursday, shooting just 38.5 percent from the field and committing 20 turnovers in a 48-45 victory. They advanced when the Billikens' Dave Fergerson missed an open 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
"I couldn't be more proud of the effort we gave tonight," said Rick Majerus, who improved to 8-0 in first-round games as Utah's coach. "We had guys out of position. I think the guys all came together."
His club will have a tougher time coming together Saturday, considering Jeremy Killion will not be in uniform. The Utes' starting point guard will miss the rest of the tournament after tearing a knee ligament early in the second half.
Killion's absence puts even more pressure on Utah's other starters, who combined to make just 10 field goals against Saint Louis. Leading scorer Hanno Mottola struggled with foul trouble and was held to 11 points.
The winner of Saturday's game will face either Syracuse or Kentucky in the regional semifinals.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Utah - F Mottola (17.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F Alex Jensen (13.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg), C Nate Althoff (9.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg), G Tony Harvey (9.4 ppg, 2.5 apg), G Jeff Johnsen (5.9 ppg, 2.0 apg). Michigan State - F Morris Peterson (16.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), F Andre Hutson (9.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), C Granger (9.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Cleaves (11.7 ppg, 7.6 apg), G Charlie Bell (11.9 ppg, 3.1 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Utah - At-large bid, Mountain West Conference, beat Valparaiso 65-38, first round. Michigan State - Automatic bid, Big Ten Conference tournament champion, beat Saint Louis 48-45, first round.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Utah - 32-24, 22 appearances. Michigan State - 24-13, 14 appearances.
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